Ignition device



July 2, 1935- M. LWGOLDMAN IGNITION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1931 1 gwbmtoz jZ/cyer Z. Gb/dmaq mwl y 1935- GOLDMAN 2,006,593

' IGNITION DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1931 s sheets-sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIINIGDI o 2 duomwtp July 2, 1935. M. L. GOLDMAN IGNITION DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 j fayer' Z. Gb/dmarn J 1935. M, L. GOLDMAN 2,006,593

IGNITION DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f/qyer l, 60/0 0707 July 2, I V M. GOLDMAN IGNITION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 10, 1951 dttowego Patented July 2,1935 2,006,593

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITION DEVICE Mayer L. Goldman, Baltimore, Md., assignor to May Oil'Burner Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland 4 Application February 10, 1931, Serial No. 514,863 '11 Claims. (Cl. 175-415) The invention relates to an electrical ignition sition with the fuel, a secondary set takes the device. I place of the primary set, so that, if by any chance In the particular adaptation of the invention, the mechanism should become inoperative, there herein disclosed and described, it is shown in conshall always be one set of electrodes in proper 5 nection with a hydrocarbon burner for heating position to ignite the fuel. Thus, in intermittent 5 systems. The device can be utilized wherever operation, when by automatic control, the flame it is necessary to ignite q ga Or 9 is alternately burning'and not burning, the elecverized fuel, and it is strictly understood that the tr des are always in readiness to ignite the fuel invention is not limited p a y to the P e at the instant the burner starts to operate. Even 10 cut disclosure. 4 though the mechanism fail or the usually opera- 10 Electrical d es t0 ignite q gaseous tive set of electrodes is not in normal position, p v d u av b n heretofore us W there will always be one set of electrodes so posiqu st sa a n, and th have been tioned that it will be ready to function and to apparent several defects which depreciate the ignite the fuel,

practicability of the ignition devices. To elucit i e of the objects of my invention to 15 t mere particularly, the P y functions of provide an electrical ignition device which will, the electrical ignition devices, namely, unfailingly at t i t t the burner t m-, t operate, p v d n a spar f uffi nt intensity to cause ply a spark of intensity sufficient to ignite the ignition, and positioning the spark at a point relf 1 2 ative to the fuel stream where failure to ignite th bj t of my invention is to provide s impossible, app a s in t ma ity of an electrical ignition device which will apply the stances to be lacking. Research and experiment spark t i th di of fuel tre m and t of electrical ignition devices heretofore used has assure it being applied invariably,

r vea e h Whil i is u lly p l to D Another object of my invention is to provide vide an te se spark in a position relative to the an electrical ignition device which will, through 5 fuel stream, it has not been possible toeliminate t mode of operation, reduce t ini the the damaging results Often encountered through formation of carbonaceous deposits on the elect bu o the eleetrede tips through OVertrodes, and eliminate entirely the burning of the h at n and of more importance the fermation electrode tips and the possibility of carbonaceous of carbonaceous deposits on the electrodes which deposits bridging the gap between the eie t d 30 eventua y w b e the p between the elec- Another object of my invention is to provide trod s and def t P p s Of the devieesuch an electrical ignition device which is controlled results entail the renewal of the electrode tips automatically imple yet durebie in t or at least disassemb ing O t entire ighitien tion and of great practical value, particularly d v in rd r t l an th l tr d a d m when used in connection with hydrocarbon burn- 35 be the cause of more or less violent explosions, due ers i heating systems to Imignited u collecting Within the 0011110115 Still another object of the invention is to protion chamber and b in thereby irregularly vide an electrical ignition device which can be nited. economically manufactured.

It is customary to so time the duration of the wit these and th object and advantages 40 now of the electric current p d n the spark in mind, attention is called to the drawings, in

that it will cease to be operative after the lapse h; of a fixed and predetermined time from its initi- Figure 1 i a id l ati of th hydrocarbon ation. My device iS SO actuated that it fllIlCtiOl'lS burner, showing the relative position of the electo withdraw the electrodes or electrode from their t i ignition d i t th th parts f th 45 positions relative to the fuel outlet at the time at b which he igniting Current ceases to fl Figure 2 is a side elevation of the electrical igni- In the use of such fuel burners, especially f h tion device and atomizer head with the solenoid automatic or semi-automatic control type, it has not energized,

been found necessary, insofar as possible, to safe- Figure 3 is a plan View of the atomizer head 50 guard the property adjacent the burner from and electrodes. k e, fire, or other hazard. To attain this Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line end, I use in my device, a multiple electrode sys- 4-4 of Figure 2. tem whereby when the usually operative elec- Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line trodes or electrode are withdrawn from juxtapo- 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the atomizer head and electrodes.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the operative connection between the linkage members of the solenoid and the movable electrodes.

Figure 8 is a. detail view of another form of operative connection between the linkage members of the solenoid and the movable electrodes.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the modified form or the device in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a front end view of the modified form of the device in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring and control of the ignition device and burner. 4

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which like numbers indicate like parts, it will be noted in Figure 1, the disclosure of the entire burner on which the electrical ignition device forms a part, there is shown relative thereto a wind pipe I having pos' ioned adjacent thereto a blower 2. An end cap 3 ts over one end of the wind pipe and is secured hereon by means of a slot 4 and projection 5. There is a similarslot and projection diametrically opposite to the one shown.

A fuel supply pipe 6 is held centrally of the wind pipe by means of the end cap 3 and a guide member 1 positioned near the front end thereof. The fuel supply pipe is secured to an end fitting 8 which is secured by means of a union 9 to the a valve l0 positioned thereabove.

A remote control, such as a thermostat II, is in electrical connection with a control relay l2 which is in electrical connection with an ignition transformer l3 and a solenoid l4. The various circuits and the operation thereof between the parts designated .above will in detail later be described.

The guide member 1 comprises four radial helical arms which abut against the wind pipe and serve to agitate or turbulate the air stream. The two upper arms form holding brackets for portions of the electrode mechanism. The atomizer head I5 is screw threaded or otherwise attachedto the fuel supply pipe.

A bracket I6 is adjustably secured to the fuel pipe and has two upwardly extending guide arms l1 and l 8, as shown in Figure 4. A second bracket l9 having a single guide arm 20, is adjustably secured to the fuel pipe adjacent the guide member I, as shown, or may be integral with the said guide member.

An electrode rod 2| passes through and is adjustably held between the guide arm I! of bracket l6 and one the upper radial arms of guide member I. Insulators 22 are provided between the electrode rod and brackets, and an electrode tip 23 bends toward the orifice of the atomizer head so that its position will be within the radius of the fuel stream. Electrode rod 2| is the current bearing electrode and is in electrical connection with the ignition transformer l3.

A rod 24 passes through and is slidably held between the guide arm l8 of bracket l8 and the guide arm of brackets 19. Abutting the guide arm l8 to the rear thereof and surrounding the rod 24, is a washer 25 between which and an adjustable collar 26 is positioned a spring 21. At the front end of the guide arm l8 and encircling the said electrode rod 24, is an adjustable collar 28, which is provided with a notch or recess 29 in the top thereof. A suitable nonmetallic shock absorbing and noise preventing washer is provided at 30. Secured to the front end of the rod 24 is a forked member 3| in which movably mounted in any suitable manner, such as a pivot pin 32, is a linkage member 33, the front end of which is movably secured in any suitable manner, such as a pivot pin 34, to an electrode holder 35. The electrode holder carriesthe ground electrode aswill be hereinafter described. Y

The electrode holder 35 is hinged to a member 36, as at 31, said member 35 being secured to a ground electrode rod 38, which is adjustably held by one of the radial arms of the guide member I. It will be noted that the electrode holder 35 is cut away at 39, and will abut against portion of member 36 when the rod 24 is actuated, thereby limiting and defining the movement or oscillation of the said electrode holder. Attention is also called to the fact that the ground electrode rod 38 is adjustable relative to the radial arm of the guide member '1, thereby facilitating the positioning ofjthe electrode hold-' er relative to the atomizer head.

Two electrode portions 4| and 42 with tips 43 and 44,-respectively, comprise the ground elec-' trode and are adjustably secured to the electrode holder 35. The said electrode portions are bent inwardly and downwardly toward'the atomizer head and the electrode tip 44 is bent upwardly at substantially right angles.

When the device is in inoperative position, therefore, there exists a sparking gap between the angle in the electrode tip 44 and the electrode tip 23. If, then, the rod 24 is actuated, the entire length of the bent-up portion of the electrode tip 44 will pass the electrode tip 23 at a sparking gap and when finally the gap is broken, the electrode tip 43 will then move to a position to form a sparking gap with electrode tip 23. Q

Positioned above the wind pipe and in any suitable manner, is a solenoid l4 having an electricalconnection 45. The armature 46 is connected by a link 41 to a lever 48 which is pivoted at 49. Secured to-48 at the said pivot point is a recessed member or lever 50 positioned in such a manner that levers 48 and 50 form a rigid bell crank and lever 50 passes through an aperture 5| in the top of the wind pipe and loosely, but operatively, engages the notch or recess 29 on the adjustable collar 28.

In Figure 8, there will be noted another form of operative connection between the linkage members of the solenoid and the movable electrodes, wherein there are provided notches or recesses 29 on two sides of the adjustable collar 28. The member 50 is more deeply recessed to loosely, but operatively engage the notches or recesses 29.

In Figures 9, l0 and 11, there will be observed a modified form of the invention, wherein there is used a stationary current bearing electrode, as in the main form, and a movable electrode holder 52, to which is secured but a single electrode tip 53.

The movable electrode tip 53 is formed in substantially hook-shaped manner and is bent to provide an elbow at spaced distance from the end of the tip, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, thus providing a pair of active electrode portions depending upon the position of the tip 53, which in turn depends on the position of the rod 24. When the electrode tip 53 is In retarded position as disclosed in Figure 9, the end of the erating rod 24 is .actuated to move the electrode tip 53 downwardly, the end of the same will move past the end of the stationary electrode 23, and t e elbow in the tip 53 will come into spaced arcing position with respect to the end of the fixed electrode 23. Thus, during the entire movement of the movable electrode, one of its portions will be in spaced arcing relation with respect to the fixed electrode 23, and it will also be observed that if the movable electrode is in retarded position, and the actuating mechanism for the same fails to function, nevertheless, the burner may be ignitedby the are which will be enabled to pass from the fixed electrode to the end of the movable electrode 53.

Referring to Figure 12 of the drawings, there will be noted a wiring diagram for the various electrical circuits which operate the ignition device. The source of electrical energy is introduced through the circuits at A, and is connected to the remote control, such as the thermostat ll. When the contact of the remote control is closed, the coil of the controlrelay I2 is energized and causes the contact therein to close. Upon the closing of this contact the primary coil of the ignition transformer I3 is energized and the current traverses the current bearing electrode 2| and at the same instant the solenoid I4 is' energized to operate the recessed member 50. and consequently the movable electrodes 4| and 42 of the ground electrode 38.- This movement of the-said recessed-member places the electrode tip 43 in true ignition position, and a sparking occurs between the movable electrode tip 43 and the current bearing electrode tip 23. However, it must be understood that should the mechanism fail to place the electrode tip 43 in operative ignition position with respect to the electrode tip 23, sparking will, nevertheless, occur between electrode tip 44 and electrode tip 23 at any time either during or before the movement when the spark coil is operating, and until such time as the electrode tip 43 comes within operative sparking range with respect to electrode tip 23.

When the primary coil of the ignition transformer is energized, a high voltage is set up in the secondary winding of the transformer. One side of the high voltage winding is connected to the ground B. The frame of the transformer being attached to the base plate of the burner is in electrical contact therewith, and, consequently, a ground circuit is carried through the various parts of the burner to a point C, where it comes into contact with the ground electrode 38. The other terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer is connected directly to the current bearing electrode 2|, which is insulated from all other parts of the burner to the spark gap.

When the current is cut oil from the ignition transformer by operation of the control relay, the solenoid is deenergized and the movable electrodes are drawn to their original position by means of the spring 21. The current hearing electrode is deenergized at the same instant and the spark ceases at the spark gap.

It will thus be seen that due to the movable electrodes and the operation thereof, that the possibility of carbonaceous deposits bridging the gap between the electrodes is entirely eliminated, since each movement of the movable electrode will break any carbonaceous deposit between the movable and stationary electrode tips and will tend to dislodge carbonaceousdeposits on each of said tips. F

If, for any reason, the electrodes fail to move, the spark will, nevertheless, be provided at the gap formed by the current bearing electrode tip 23 and the angle in the electrode tip 44 of the electrode 42 of the ground electrode 38. The

same is true in respect to themodified form shown in Figures 9, l0 and 11. v

It is obvious that either a grounded or ungrounded system of electrical circuits may be used in the operation of the device.

Attention is called to the accessibility of the ignition device. By simply unscrewing the union 9 from the fuelpipe and turning the cap 3 and disengaging it from the wind pipe I, the atomizer head, supply pipe and ignition device may be dropped to disengage the recesses 29 on the main form or-irecesses 29 of the form shown in Figure 8 on the adjustable collar 28 from the recessed member 50 and subsequently withdrawn from the structure described without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1'. An ignition device for fuel burners comprisinga stationary electrode, a plurality of movable electrodes, and means for effecting relative advance and return movements of said movable electrodes along the same'path adjacent the stationary electrode one or the other of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said stationary electrode at all times during the movements of said movable electrodes.

2. An ignition device for fuel burners comprising a stationary electrode, a plurality of movable electrodes, means positively to effect advance movement of said movable electrodes, and means to effect return movement of said electrodes along the same path adjacent the stationary electrode one or the other of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said stationary electrode at all times during the movements of said movable electrodes.

3. An ignition device for fuel burners comprising a stationary electrode, aplurality of vertically spaced movable electrodes, means positively to effect advance movement ofsaid movable electrodes, and means automatically to effect return adjacent the stationary electrode one or the other of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said stationary electrode at all times during the movements of said movable electrodes.

4. In an ignition device for burners, a burner tip for projecting fuel, a pair of cooperating electrodes positioned in spaced arcing relation with respect to each other adjacent the fuel stream from said burner tip, electric means for causing an are between said electrodes, and means for moving one of said electrodes away from the other.

5. An ignition device for burners comprising a burner tip for projecting fuel, a stationary electrode positioned adjacent the fuel stream from said burner tip, a movable electrode, and means for moving said movable electrode into spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode and for moving the same away from said fixed electrode.

6. An ignition device for burners comprising a stationary electrode, a movable electrode, and means for moving saidmovable electrode between advanced and retarded positions with respect to said fixed electrode, said movable electrode having a portion in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in retarded position, and another portion in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in advanced position.

7. An ignition device for burners comprising a stationary electrode, a movable electrode, and means for moving said movable electrode between advanced and retarded positions with respect to said fixed electrode, said movable electrode having a portion in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in retarded position, and another portion in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in advanced position, one'of said portions being in arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode at all times during the movements of said movable electrode.

3. An ignition device for burners comprising a stationary electrode, a. movable electrode holder carrying a plurality of movable electrodes, and means for moving said holder between advanced and retarded positions with respect to said fixed electrode, one of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said holder is in retarded position, and another of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said holder is in advanced position.

9. An ignition device for burners comprising a stationary electrode, a movable electrode holder carrying a plurality of movable electrodes, and

means for moving said holder between advanced and retarded positions with respect to said fixed electrode, one of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said holder is in retarded position, and another of said movable electrodes being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said holder is in advanced position, one of said movable electrodes being in arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode at all times during the movements of said holder.

10. An ignition device for burners comprising a stationary electrode, a movable electrode provided with an elbow spaced from its outer end, and means for moving said movable electrode between advanced and retarded positions with respect to said fixed electrode, the outer end'of said movable electrode being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in retarded position, and the elbow of said movable electrode being in spaced arcing position with respect .to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in advanced position.

11. An ignition device for burners comprising a stationary electrode, a movable electrode provided with an elbow spaced from its outer end, and means for moving said movable electrode between advanced and retarded positions with respect. to said fixed electrode, the outer end of said movable electrode being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in retarded position, and the elbow of said movable electrode being in spaced arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode when said movable electrode is in advanced position, either the elbow or the end of said movable electrode being in arcing position with respect to said fixed electrode at all times 

